Police Blotter, 11-15-08

Troopers responded to Sklarczyk potato farm on M-32 near Johannesburg for a larceny complaint of a Mrs. Potato Head statue which was standing on a wooden potato crate in front of the farm.

According to reports, Mrs. Potato Head was last seen Oct. 30. Head was described as having blue eyes (number of eyes not known but believed to be at least two), with purple eye shadow, a pink nose, wearing a pink hat and carrying a green purse at the time of the larceny. Reports indicate Head, who is made of a dense foam, weighs between 25 and 30 pounds, and is short in stature. The statue was created by Larry Edwards, owner of the Spud Warehouse and is valued at $550.

Investigators reportedly were unable to locate any foot ware or tire impressions at the crime scene. The principal at Johannesburg High School, Will Kearney, was contacted by the Sklarczyk family, advised of the larceny of the large potato and asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

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Anyone with information of the whereabouts of Head should contact Trooper Sunshine Ponzetti at 732-5141.

The case remains open pending further investigation.

2-vehicle crash on M-32

Cheryl Fox, 52, Petoskey, was northbound on M-32 just south of Buell Road in Elmira Township, Monday, around 12:05 a.m. when an oncoming 2004 Saturn driven by Kyle Phelps, 26, Gaylord, reportedly slid into the path of the 1997 Jeep Cherokee Fox was driving.

Phelps reportedly lost control of his vehicle on the slippery roadway and collided with Fox, causing moderate damage to both vehicles.

There were no reported injuries and Phelps was cited for hazardous driving — violation of basic speed laws, too fast.

Driver avoids 2-vehicle collision

Ronald Paul, 58, Boyne City, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Impala westbound on M-32, two-tenths of a mile west of North Townline Road in Elmira Township, Monday, around 5:15 p.m. when a two-vehicle crash reportedly occurred in the opposing lane.

Reports state that the impact from the collision spun one of the vehicles in front of Paul, who, in order to avoid crashing into the vehicle, left the north side of the roadway. Paul’s vehicle reportedly sustained extensive damage when it struck a ditch.

Deputies responded to a complaint Nov. 5, around 1:15 p.m. from Marvine Dortch, Gaylord, who reported she had allegedly found an unknown subject inside a Morgan Road residence in Livingston Township.

According to reports, Dortch, who was napping, woke up when she heard a noise. When she went to investigate she reportedly found a subject, described as a white male, in his mid-20s, wearing a short-sleeved gray T-shirt and jeans. When the subject saw Dortch he fled the home, ran down the driveway and drove away in a light-colored vehicle which had reportedly been parked in the roadway.

Reports indicate the suspect gained access to the residence by kicking open a porch screen door and then entered the house through a window.

The incident remains open.

Extensive damage in car-deer crash

Jason Lasley, 36, Gaylord, was southbound on I-75 one-mile north of Winters Road in Corwith Township, Monday, around 6:45 p.m. when he reportedly struck a deer with the 2001 Chevrolet Blazer he was driving.

Extensive damage was reported to Lasley’s vehicle and he was not injured.

Gaylord City Police: Citation issued in crash

Jacque Becroft, 57, Gaylord, was southbound on South Center Avenue at West Second Street, Monday, around 5:15 p.m. when a 1999 Ford Explorer driven by Randy Reynolds, 46, Gaylord, reportedly drove into the path of the 2007 Dodge Nitro Becroft was driving.

According to reports, Reynolds, who was westbound on West Main Street, failed to yield the right-of-way to Becroft, resulting in moderate damage to both vehicles.

Becroft was transported to Otsego Memorial Hospital by the Otsego County EMS/Rescue and treated and released.

Reynolds was not injured and he was cited for hazardous driving — fail to yield right of way at a signed intersection.

Driver cited in crash

Jacob Tebo, 35, Cheboygan, was northbound on South Otsego Avenue just south of McCoy Road, Tuesday, around 4:30 p.m. when a 1996 Dodge pickup driven by Joseph Kucharek, 16, Gaylord, reportedly crashed into the front passenger side of the 2007 Ford Tebo was driving.

According to reports, Kucharek was attempting to make a right turn onto northbound South Otsego Avenue from a private drive and struck Tebo, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.

Neither driver was injured and Kucharek was issued a citation for hazardous driving.

Driver hits utility pole, cited for OWI

Thad Goodenough, 34, Grayling, was making a left turn from northbound South Otsego Avenue onto West McCoy Road, Wednesday, around 10:25 p.m. when he reportedly lost control of the 1995 GMC pickup he was driving.

Reports indicate Goodenough accelerated at a high rate of speed as he made his turn, left the roadway and struck a utility pole, causing extensive damage to his vehicle.

Goodenough was not injured and according to reports, he was cited for careless driving and arrested for operating while intoxicated.

3-vehicle rear-end crash

A 2000 Ford, driven by Bradley Howe, 41, Gaylord, and a 2000 Ford pickup driven by Donald Marlatt, 71, Atlanta, were stopped on westbound West Main Street at Court Street, Monday, around 1:20 p.m. when the rear end of Marlatt’s vehicle was reportedly struck by the front end of a 2001 Honda van driven by Ashley Burill, 33, Gaylord.

The impact from the crash reportedly caused Marlatt’s vehicle to push into the rear end of Howe’s vehicle.

Minor damage was reported to Howe’s vehicle and extensive damage was reported to Marlatt’s and Burill’s vehicles.